kevin western, pe mndot scc design manager mndot role in stem development with stillwater schools

Kevin Western, PEMnDOT

SCC Design Manager

MnDOT Role in STEM Development with Stillwater

Schools

Project Objectives

• Help students love engineering

• Create hands-on experiences for area students/communities Direct connection to project and workers

• Long-term: Create a curriculum program that can be used for 8-10 years in Minnesota and Wisconsin

What Schools Told Us

Hands-on

Break down barriers

Broader than STEM

Schools areresource-strapped

Access toproject site

Let teachersdefine the needs

Live/recordedproject work

Benefit all grades

Mentorships

Problem-solution formats

Project Assets

Professional staff— we are mobile

We love engineering

Evolving project site

Extensive materials

Multiple project challenges

Extended design/construction timetable

Mentorship structure

Ability to generate public interest

National contacts

Project Elements

• St. Croix Crossing in Schools Project engineers presenting to school groups Information for teachers and students

• Project site tours via paddle boats

• Mentorship

• Curriculum program

St Croix Crossing in Schools

• If they ask, we try to attend

• Over two dozen education related presentations to date

• Engineers from SCC, MnDOT Bridge Office, WisDOT

• Project team’s role: Logistics Scheduling

Project Site Tours

• Experiential for students this summer

• St Croix Boat & Packet Co. willing to hostschool tours at lower rate

• Challenges Space limitations Satisfying different grades

• Project team’s role Outreach to school districts (Jan. 2015) Scheduling, Logistics, including speakers

Mentorships

• Connect high school students with mentor engineers from WisDOT and MnDOT

• Past interest from high school students• Project team’s role

Outreach to school districts (Jan. 2015) Resource list Other civil areas as well

Why Curriculum Program?

• Viable long term• Local interest in Bridge construction• Landmark bridge – long term interest

• Unique approach – teachers and engineers working together

• True partnership with local schools

• Best way to inspire young engineers